«Perhaps other explorers have entered this maze».
«Another explorer? But you can't meet other explorers in the Tower in Heaven», Hikurod murmured as if he didn't understand.
«Murad, you should know that our situation right now is not normal».
The fourth floor of the Tower in Heaven was a separate space. Unless several teams entered at the same time, no matter how much you wandered around, you wouldn't come across another team. However, it was a space unknown to the outside world.
«Anything could happen here».
The unknown, the not yet known, meaning that all possibilities were encompassed.
«I understand. But perhaps our guesses are wrong. Other rules may apply for the mere fact of entering this space...».
Discarding another possibility of Hikurod, I said firmly: «That seems like too big a leap». This was not an unknown space for me. It would be more reasonable to resolve things quickly and move on to the next task without wasting time. «I think Rotmiller's assumption is correct. Dwalkie, what about you?»
«...i also think it's more plausible.»
«So you agree. Missha, you?»
«Uhh ... I'm going to stay silent.» Missha abstained. However, since there were already three votes for the majority, I did not force her to choose.
«Okay, so the decision is made. For now, let's assume that Rotmiller's words are true. If you have any complaints, speak now».
«...There is none.» After the dwarf puppet leader nodded sullenly, I quickly resolved the situation.
Another explorer had entered the maze, and they were stronger than us. I felt like my stats had doubled, so I was sure it was an active scout on the sixth floor or higher, not with a clan, but with a team unit. If so, what should we do now? Each of the team members gave their opinion on the topic I raised, and I took the opportunity to fulfill the condition of invoking the intermediate boss.
[The labyrinth demon has detected blood].
Well, this just needs a little more time to work.
«Hmm, does it really matter? I think it would be better to find a way out by joining forces...»
«We don't know what kind of explorers they are. Why don't we stay here? There is no guarantee that we will be trapped once the maze closes».
«Hahaha! My friend, what worries you so much? Even though they are stronger than us, isn't this a special situation? Even if we meet, they won't be able to do anything to us easily, so let's move like we normally would.»
«Um, but just in case, it would be best to avoid them as much as possible and find a way out».
I smiled bitterly. I was wondering if they would say something worthwhile, so I listened carefully as I waited. As expected, their collective intelligence was of little use. Rotmiller at least was better, but while he had great sense for preparing for the «yes», he didn't have the worst-case scenario in mind.
«Bjorn, what do you think?»
The eyes turned to that question. Finally I organized my thoughts and said: «I don't think it could be a coincidence either».
«What do you think it is, then?»
«An explorer with so much power on the fourth floor at this hour? Wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that they were wandering around with a goal?».
«You mean your goal could have been this area in the first place?»
«Yeah. And if so, they will have already noticed our presence».
Maybe they would see the marks we left and come after us. No, even if not, there might be a way to track us.
Dwalkie denied my words. «Ah, it can't be, how can it be? And to think that they already knew this place».
The dwarf also laughed. «Haha, still, you talk like they're already looters».
Rotmiller asked another question seriously. «So what do you think is the best course of action?».
i replied. They were unknown beings, therefore, all possibilities were imminent. This variable could be good luck, or it could lead to death. Therefore, although it seemed strange to my colleagues, I had to assume the worst. «We have to get out of here».
Hit!
Not taking my eyes off the premonitory feeling in my heart was the secret to my survival.
***
[Has killed to Baphomet. EXP +5. You have killed a top class mutant. EXP +1]
We ran through the labyrinth, without getting lost, but heading correctly towards our destination.
«Over here!»
Rotmiller, who was following me closely, held a map in his hand. It was not the map he had been working hard on until now, but a map detailing the path of the entire maze. Of course, the location of the boss room was also written on it, as it was the loot obtained by defeating Baphomet, the intermediate boss.
I didn't expect to catch him so easily.
Baphomet was summoned just as I finished my words. Normally, the battle would have been a tight victory attacking his weak points, but it took less than a minute. It was possible to simply hit him with damage. To say it was a good thing was a bit doubtful.
How strong do they usually be?
We had unknown guests not invited. I had long ago dismissed the idea that it could be just one person. No matter how strong an individual was, there were limits.
Jump!
I cleared my thoughts and accelerated. Since everyone seemed to follow me, I thought it would be fine. In fact, when I took a look behind me, even Hikurod, who lacked stamina, was running well with Dwalkie on his back. Stopping worrying, I hit the head of the Vaikundus that jumped ahead.
«Mehhg!»
Of course, he staggered a lot, but he didn't die from a single blow. However, I passed in front of the wobbly monster without slowing down. Missha had decided to take care of the garbage monsters.
Raja!
The light scattered at the same time as the sound of flesh exploding. However, no mana stone was heard falling. It seemed like Missha had caught her in the air again.
«To the left!»
I followed Rotmiller's instructions and turned the tide. Then, I spotted four Vaikundus in the distance. To be honest, Missha, Rotmiller and I could get rid of them ourselves now, but it would be nice to save even a second of time.
«Dwalkie!»
At my scream, Dwalkie got off the dwarf's back and cast a spell.
Shhhhh!
Cold Storm: Rank 7 attack magic that damaged a wide area instead of a single target. The spell was originally used for rank 8 or 9 trash mobs or to precede Missha's connecting move.
«Meh...g?»
A hail blizzard shot down the hallway, freezing the four Vaikundus. Rank 6 monsters had received not only the Frozen state but also the Freezing state with a single spell. However, the state would be released within seconds.
Bam!
I quickly crushed them with my mace and we resumed our march. If we decided we needed a break, we would lie down in the passageway to catch our breath. Time passed like this, and it was time to take a third break.
«Huff, Huff... Bjorn, aren't we rushing too far? I don't think we have to be in such a hurry». Hikurod carefully inhaled and exhaled the discontent he had been containing. It was to be expected.
My first request was this: «I still have that ominous feeling. So please. Trust me this time».
The others did their best to play along with me.
«...Well, you have good senses, anyway.»
«I don't care. And Bjorn, don't think I've paid my debt on this. I intend to pay it properly later».
As time passed, the questions began.
«I think this is enough too», Dwalkie said now. «It seems like a jump that they knew about this maze in the first place, too...»
Weren't they more likely to come here by accident like us? Even if that were true, could they really be looters? Wasn't it more of an illusion to believe that they would deliberately find us to harm us?
«If you're worried about the marks we leave, we can start moving slowly. Even if they are looters, they won't be able to find us in a place like this».
«To be honest, I'm also not sure why you're so sure there's a loophole here».
Above all, what guarantee was there that there would be a way to escape into a room that might or might not be the boss's room?
«Mm, no complaints. You know, right? I mean it. Hmm?»
They were all reasonable questions because they hadn't had the same experiences as me. A hidden piece wasn't that special. Just look at Jencia, who we met in the Glacier Cave not long ago. She opened the crack through a hidden piece element. In addition, in Ghostbusters information was exchanged every month and knowledge about the hidden pieces was disseminated.
«Bjorn, you're not acting like yourself today. Even if everything you say is true, why don't you defend yourself?». Hikurod spoke persuasively, but that was the biggest problem.
The fact that the Guardian of Balance was in his place? That still didn't change anything. A situation where we would be fucking crushed was now just a situation where we would be crushed a normal amount. That was all. Even if our stats were the same as the opponent's, there was a difference in skill ranges and the number of essences. With objects, the difference would be even greater.
If we fight, we will undoubtedly lose.
This was the source of my anxiety.
Hit!
A lion cannot have thoughts in front of a rabbit. But a rabbit, if it encounters a lion, must run.
«There is no time for this. If you're done resting, let's go.»
***
A man standing in the middle of a stone chamber murmured: «The Labyrinth of Larcaz...» The man took off the hood that covered his face and approached the wall, then carefully swept the stone. «We have finally arrived». The corners of his mouth twisted and his burned scarred skin distorted. Anyone could see that the man was really happy.
«Lord, why have you given wings to such an evil person?». As if lamenting, an old man dressed in a black priestly robe closed his eyes. To ask if that was really his intention, asking a meaningless question and throwing it into the air was the only thing he could do.
«Old man, do I have to rip out your tongue?».
«How can I be afraid? Physical pain is...»
«Of course, I was referring to his grandson's language».
When the old man closed his mouth, the burned man giggled and looked back at the ground. His eyes fell on a middle-aged scout who had collapsed into a crooked posture like a shrimp. A cold sweat welled up on his forehead, and his parted lips trembled and let out a moan filled with pain. «It's just an arm, don't overdo it».
The man laughed at the explorer's severed shoulder. Who was going to tell him that there was a way to get into that place he had been looking for for a whole year?
«Show us the way just because the arm of a rank 5 scout was offered, that evil god is a funny guy».
«Isn't he... your teammate?»
«Teammate? I only brought it because it's useful. Hey, get up. We're late, we don't have time».
When the burned man put his foot on the explorer's waist and shook it, deep wrinkles formed between the old man's eyebrows. «Enough is enough. He has offered a part of his body to the evil god. The pain will be unimaginable-»
«Enough, old man».
The old man shuddered at the cold voice of the burned man. Unable to hide his anger, the old man's clenched fists trembled, but that was it. He was disgusted with his own cowardice for having to be a spectator of an evil act. However, there were things that the old man had to protect. Maybe this explorer was the same.
«I'm fine... high priest». The scout struggled to get up, grabbing the empty shoulder area.
The other man nodded satisfied. However, realizing something belatedly, he frowned and repeatedly opened and closed his hand.
Squeeze.
I knew about the Guardian of Balance. However, even taking that into account, the changes that had just occurred in his body were meaningless. «Elder, has anything changed? Like your divine power?»
«...It has decreased a little.»
«Diminished? Hasn't it increased? Are you sure?»
«I'm sure.»
The man turned his head to stare at the explorer. «And you?»
«Including soul power, in general, f-physical statistics are reduced...»
«I see.» The man smiled like a fish and stared down the passage. Did a rank 5 scout lose some of his powers? «Looks like some rats came in first». His eyes, illuminated by the flickering of the torch, emitted a cold light.